David Calder

I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the great work being done by GSC members.

GSC Vice-President Eero Laine (CUNY) has taken the lead on overhauling the ASTR GSC Handbook to make the organization clearer and more streamlined for future GSC cabinets and members.

As we gear up for the 2012 conference, Kellen Hoxworth (Stanford), chair of the GSC Conference Assistance committee, is spearheading our efforts to provide conference-goers with helpful information about transportation, dining, and cultural outings in Nashville. If you’d like to help, you can get in touch with him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Information from Nashville natives especially would be appreciated.

Jordana Cox (Northwestern) and Michelle Salerno (Illinois) have been updating our list of Graduate Student Resources. The list already includes books, articles, and websites on every aspect of graduate student life and work and the academic and non-academic job markets. The next edition of the list will also feature recommendations for writing, backup, and file-sharing software that could prove particularly useful to graduate students. We will be sharing this list via the GSC listserv (https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!forum/astrgsc).

GSC President-Elect Kellyn Johnson (UCSB) is directing our efforts to improve the GSC’s web presence. As we approach the conference, I encourage all graduate students to make sure they are signed up for the GSC listserv. If you’re on Facebook, you can also request to be added to the GSC’s Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/astrgsc/). This is the perfect place to find roommates for Nashville or learn what others have planned for the conference.

As Kellyn Johnson will assume the role of GSC President at the ASTR general meeting in Nashville, I want to congratulate Kellyn and encourage all of you to get in touch with her about participating in the GSC. Elections for other GSC cabinet positions will be coming up after the conference.

Lastly, it’s been a pleasure working with all of you this past year. I look forward to seeing everyone in Nashville.

David Calder is a doctoral candidate in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama (IPTD) at Northwestern University. He is currently completing dissertation research in France with support from a Fulbright research grant. He is the 2011-2012 president of the Graduate Student Caucus of the American Society for Theatre Research.